The Marks of Identification
By L. E. F.
A SYSTEM of Bertillon measurements, as it were, has been given to the Christian, by which to identify the last generation—the one which will witness the return of Christ Jesus and the close of this age. The identification marks are complete. The measurements are perfect. The thumb marks coincide exactly. One feature called for is described in James 5: 1-9, where we are told that “in the last days” men will “heap” treasures together, and that as a result, the laborers will be oppressed, and defrauded of their wages. One cannot but be impressed with the accuracy of such a statement when it is examined in the light of twentieth century conditions, and studied from the viewpoint of accurate statistics obtained from most reliable sources. Mr. Frank P. Walsh, chairman of the Federal Commission of Industrial Relations, says: “We found that in this country of greatest resources and education, one third of the toilers are receiving remuneration that barely brings them above the poverty line. Two thirds are in abject poverty. . . . There are more than 9,000,000 women workers in this country, more than one half of whom are receiving less than $6.00 per week. . . . In all industries of the United States, we found that the willing workers are out of work one fifth of the time because it is impossible for them to get employment.” And the divine description was, “Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth.” How accurately they correspond! When God speaks, it is with the precision of eternity. The age in which we live stands without a parallel in history. Never before has there been such a heaping “together” of treasures by corporations and syndicates as at the present time. Formerly fortunes were independent; but the idea was conceived of forming trusts that would bring these together, to shut out competition. To-day it is estimated that one half of the nation’s wealth—which is about $120,000,000—is in corporate form. How accurately present conditions fit the prophetic mold! We may know “of a surety” that these are the last days. L. E. F.